THE NAMSEN. 241 



with the fly one hundred and fifty salmon in the course of a 

 month ! 



Up to a late period the Steenkjcer was an open river, or 

 at least permission to fish was readily obtainable from the 

 proprietor ; but it is now said to be rented, and for a term 

 of years. 



About one hundred miles beyond the Steenkjoer, is the 

 Namsen, by all accounts about the first river in Scandinavia 

 for salmon fishing, as well in regard to the abundance as 

 to the size of the fish. And as the rapids and roughs, with 

 intermediate pools, extend for miles together, there is, of 

 course, room for several rods. 



" The largest salmon I have caught was in the Namsen," 

 says Sir Hyde Parker. " He weighed sixty pounds, being 

 exactly four feet long, and was the largest fish of any kind 

 I ever caught; indeed, I have never seen one caught of 

 greater weight. I caught nine others that day one of 

 forty, one thirty, one eighteen, one fifteen, the rest from eight 

 pounds downwards." 



" We remained on the Namsen about a fortnight," writes 

 Mr. Dann, " and killed ninety-five salmon ; but the weather 

 was so bad that several days we were unable to fish. The 

 largest, of which I was the fortunate captor, weighed 

 forty-five pounds. He broke the third joint of my rod at 

 the first dash, and I was an hour and three-quarters in 

 killing him with the remaining joints. Cholmeley caught 

 the second best, weighing thirty-five pounds. Between that 

 weight and twenty-five pounds we killed thirty fish. The 

 first day we caught twelve, Cholmeley and I, Hutchinson not 

 fishing. It really is the best river I have ever seen; such 

 monster salmon are found in no other." 



VOL. i. R 



